An Eisteddfod Glossary

ArchdderwyddArch-druid, leader of the Gorsedd

awdlA long poem in one of the traditional cynghanedd metres (often translated as strict metrical verse)

bardd (plural beirdd) Bard, i.e. poet, especially an entrant in one of the competitions; within the hierarchy of the Gorsedd, the Beirdd (also known as Cerddorion or Llenorion) are the middle rank, dressed in blue

CadeirioChairing of the Bard, the ceremony in which a hand-carved throne is awarded to the winner of the competition for a long poem in cynghanedd (strict metrical verse)

CoroniCrowning of the Bard, the ceremony in which a crown is awarded to the winner of the free verse competition, i.e. not cynghanedd

cymanfa ganuCommunal hymn-singing event, such as the one in the Pavilion which closes the Eisteddfod  non-competitive for once!

PafiliwnThe enormous central marquee (capacity 4,000) where the main ceremonies take place

prifarddLiterally, chief bard: any winner of a bardic prize, and thus ex-officio a member of the senior order of the Gorsedd, the druids

pryddestA long poem in free verse, i.e. not cynghanedd

stondinAny of the hundreds of stalls on the maes, in the form of a marquee, trailer, caravan or whatever

ymryson y beirdd [the contest of the bards] or talwrn y beirdd [the cockpit of the bards] Versifying competition where rival teams of bards are given just a few minutes to complete a verse or couplet in cynghanedd